Chaos erupted at the all-night Nature Party at Kibbutz Re’im near the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning when Hamas fired rockets into the crowd and then barraged the 1,300 partygoers with gunfire as they attempted to flee. A group of young women who escaped from the party found their way to ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran and were ushered into the village by security personnel. ADI’s dedicated professional staff jumped into action and lovingly cared for the traumatized and exhausted young women for several hours until police arrived to escort them home.
Additionally, dozens of IDF soldiers came to the village on Saturday evening after spending the day fighting off terrorists in towns and settlements across the Negev. These brave women and men are now stationed at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran to protect our residents and rehabilitation patients – the most vulnerable members of Israeli society – during these trying times. The ADI staff is treating them like the heroes they are, with great sensitivity to the losses their battalions have endured over the last 24 hours.
Many of our staff members who were home for the holiday are still missing, and we are very concerned for their safety. Family members of other staff members have been murdered, injured or kidnapped, and the houses of those who live in Ofakim were burned and severely damaged in battles with terrorists.
Yet other staff members were evacuated from their homes or have difficulty getting to the village, so the staff members and National Service volunteers on site are working overtime to keep the residents and rehabilitation patients safe and calm. The village’s administration is making great efforts to ensure that work shifts are planned in a way that provides the best possible care for the residents and rehabilitation patients while also taking into account the physical and mental health of our exceptional staff and volunteers.
With all of this going on, The Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran has made the necessary preparations to receive wounded civilians from the surrounding towns and villages in order to assist the national effort as much as possible.
WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY: This is a difficult and challenging time, and we need YOUR SUPPORT to secure additional security personnel and staff members to allow us to maintain routine under fire. PLEASE DONATE NOW
